“IF we ignore what comes out of the prison system the prisoners would not ignore us, that is why we have to support them before they are re-entered back into society.”

These words came from CEO of Solid Waste Management Company Limited (SWMCOL), Ray Brathwaite, who showed his full support for the Carrera Island inmates at their 19th annual calypso competition staged last Thursday.

The event has become a crucial part in prisoners’ rehabilitation process at the island prison.

During the proceedings, inmate MC, Victor Moses, revealed that he along with many other inmates didn’t know how to read at all, much less how to read music, when he entered prison.

The MC further thanked the rehabilitation program for helping prisoners to read, sing, write and play instruments.

Eleven inmates performed several diverse renditions at the competition with the hope of becoming the Carrera Island Calypso Monarch C2K6.

It was quite clear that the prisoners were well up to date on current affairs affecting the nation as several of their compositions dealt with present issues.

Crowd favorite and also winner of the People’s Choice award Clifford Toussaint, had the audience in stitches with his politically motivated song entitled, We Want To Know.

His rendition dealt with many different aspects of politics and crime affecting the country today.

The song was cleverly put together and every punch line had the crowd laughing.

Junior National Security Minister FITZGERALD
HINDS, Commissioner JOHN ROUGIER and
Superintendent ALLISTER JAMES (right) joke
while presenting first place winner, NICOLAS
GOSINE (second from left) with his trophies.

(L-R front row): Junior National Security Minister
FITZGERALD HINDS, Carrera superintendent,
ALISTER JAMES, retired Police Commissioner
JULES BERNARD and SWMCOL CEO RAY
BRATHWAITE cheer on the prisoners during
their performances.

A Prisons officer presents CLIFFORD TOUSSAINT
(right) with the third place trophy.

One of the lines of his song lamented the police “eye in the sky” and the latest crime fight-ing device “the Blimp” saying that they were not effective.

In his song the inmate even questioned “why thousands of taxpayers dollars” was spent on the eye in the sky and after a few months the device stopped working.

Toussaint also joked about Prime Minister Manning claiming to know who “Mr. Big” was.

According to the inmate “Mr. Big” was campaigning with the ruling party and was highly responsible for them currently being in power.

He received a standing ovation from both inmates and audience members.

The government also came under scrutiny from the inmate, Percival Jeffrey, with his song entitled, Political Corruption.

His rendition dealt highly with “dishonesty and bacchanal” between the two leading political parties of the country, UNC and PNM.

Junior Minister of National Security, Fitzgerald Hinds, Commissioner of Prisons John Rougier and two other former Prisons Commissioners were among specially invited guests.

Minister Hinds merely laughed as his government came under comic scrutiny by the inmates.

However, the night belonged to Nicoloas Gosine who copped the Monarch title with his two songs, Hate and Corruption and Lord Put A Hand.

His second track was accompanied by a skit, which showcased how easily a man could commit murder.

The mini play documented a man going to a drug dealer without an adequate amount of money to buy the drugs.

The dealer refused to sell the drugs to the man for less than the marked price.
Eventually, the man robbed and killed an innocent man to attain sufficient money to buy the illegal substance.

Gosine who was also crowned the Chutney Monarch of 2005 walked away with $1,500 worth in units from the Unit Trust Company (UTC) along with several trophies and gifts from various sponsors.

Persival Jeffers placed fourth, Clifford Toussaint placed third and defending champion, Andy Alexis, placed second.